Agitating machine



Och-7, 1947. J. HALLER AGITATING MACHINE Filed May 13, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet l Gttorncgs J. HALLER 2,428,492

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 QM Qm mm Nu M NW Q v 9? 4 a mm 8 AU M a s m a 12 Oct. 7, 1947.

AGITATING MACHINE Filed May 15. 1944 Oct. 7, 1947. J. HALLER AGITATING MACHINE s Sheets-Shet 5 Filed May 13, 1944 3nventor Gttbrnegs Patented Oct. 7, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE The present invention relates to improvements in agitating machines, and more particularly to a machine for mixing paint and other viscous material.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an agitating machine which is adaptedto accommodate a plurality of receptacles to facilitate the mixing of a large number of difierent paints and viscous materials simultaneously. Another object of the invention is'to provide an agitating machine constructed and arranged so as to permit the easy removal andinstallation of the receptacles and to provide each receptacle with an individual stirrer operated from a common source of power; I

Another object of theinvention is to provide an agitating machine of the above-mentioned character having means for removably receiving a plurality'of paint containers and to provide means for locking the containers in' position during the mixing operation:

Another object of the invention is to provide an agitating machine in which the stirrer is carried by a removable cover adapted to be locked in position so as to confine the contents of the receptacles and prevent the same from splashing during the agitating operation. 7 V v V I Another object of the invention is to provide an agitating machine including a series of tiers for receiving a plurality of receptacles so that the stirrer mounted in the cover ofthe receptacle may be driven by an endless chain in such a manner as to permit the easy positioning of the receptacle and removal thereof from the agitating machine and yet permit the endles s chain to effectively drive the stirrers of a plurality of con tainers simultaneously without requiring numerous mechanical connections between the endless sprocket chain and the various stirrer mechanisms for the receptacle. r 1

- Other objects and advantages of the-invention will become apparent during the course oi the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view ofv the agitating machineillustrating the manner in which a plurality of receptacles may be positloned therein for the .purpose of agitating the contents thereof; i 1

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows and partly broken away to illustrate the drive mechanism for the several containers;

. H Figure 3 is averticalcross sectionalview taken :3 Claims. (Cl. 259-67) on line 33 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows showing the drive mechanism'for receptacles when effectively driving the stirrers of a plurality of positioned in the agitating machine;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view illustrating various structural details of the receptacle cover and stirrer therefor;

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the irregular line 5-5 in Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the manner in which the receptacle is clamped in position and certain features of the receptacle cover; and

Figure 6 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the zigzag line 6-6 of Figure 5 looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating the closure member for the cover spout.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustrating the invention like reference characters will be employed to designate like parts throughout, the reference character Ii] will generally indicate a base having a depending flange ll extending downwardly from the front, rear and ends thereof. Secured to the base it: and welded to the depending flange I i at the ginal edge thereof is a pair of uprights 12 having inwardly directed flanges 3 at each vertical edge thereof to form the side walls of a cabinet structure of any desired height. The upper ends of the uprights l2 are connected by a cover plate l4 having a marginal depending flange l5 extend. ing along sides and ends thereof which embrace the upper ends of said side walls i2 and are adapted to be secured thereto by welding or like at various points of contact.

Mounted within the cabinet structure above described and extending between the uprights i2 is a series of horizontal shelves it and I1 and said shelves are provided with marginal depending flanges I8 and I9 respectively for abutting said side walls l2 and flanges 13 thereof so that portions of the depending flanges l8 and iii may be welded or otherwise secured to the side walls I2 of the cabinet structure.

Mounted on the base It and shelf I 5 is a plurality of receptacle-supporting platforms generally indicated by the reference character 28 and since each of the platforms is identical in structure, a description of one will suffice for all. Generally, the platform 20 comprises a disc-like base 2| of sufficient diameter to support a container metrically opposed points thereon are bracket extensions 23 which depend downwardly and terminate in foot portions 24 for being fastened or anchored to the base H! or shelf l6 by means of bolts or the like as at 25 extending through openings 26 in said foot portions with the free ends projecting through suitable openings 21 in said base If! and shelf I6. A nut 28 is threaded on the bolt for securely clamping and holding the platforms 20 in position. The platforms 20 are provided with upwardly extending circumferentially spaced receptacle-engaging members 39 and a clamping cam member 3! is rotatably mounted in an extension 32 on the disc-like platform 2! for camming the base of the receptacle againstthe upstanding can-engaging members 30. The cam 3| is secured to one end of the shaft, 33 which is. rotatably mounted in a bore 34 of said extension 32 and a control finger piece 35 is secured to said shaft so as to rotate the same and move the cam 7 3! into engagement with the can base 32. A finger piece 36 is formed on the operating member 35 to facilitate the easy rotation of theshaft 33 andthe engagement of the cam 3| with the can base.

As indicated in Figure 1, the cans form in size and comprise a bottom wall 37' secured to a cylindrical wall 38 by bending the edge of the bottom wall 31 over the lower edge of the cylindrical wall 38 as at 39, and forming a sealing engagement therewith. Thetop edge of the cylindrical wall 38 is provided with an inwardly extending flanged member 40 which has its marginal' edge 4| bent over and pressed into sealing contact with said upper edge of the .cylindrical wall 38. The receptacle 22 may represent a conventional paint can or container of other viscous material, the contents of which are to be stirred or mixed and as is usual in cans and receptacles of this type, the inwardly directed flange 4B'is ofiset as at 42 and terminates inan upwardly and 22 are unidownwardly extending flange portion 43 to provide a sealing lip for the usual can cover (not shown). v

The usual can cover is adapted to be replaced by a closure member 44 of disc-like shape having a downwardly depending peripheral flange 45 return bentas at 46 to provide a rounded contact surface 41 for being received in the offset portion 42 of the inwardly extending flange ea A central opening 48 is formed in the closure member 44 and located in said opening is a bearing block 49 secured in place by being spun as, at 5B. A washer 5| is interposed between the'top wall of the closure member and the spun portionEi; of the bearing member 49 to additionally seal and lock the bearing member 49 within the closure member 44. The bearing member 49 is provided with a longitudinal bore 52 for receiving the rotary shaft 53 and is provided with a reduced threadedportion 54 for receiving a packing gland nut 55. A quantity of sealing and packing material 56' is mounted in the packing gland nut'55' so asto; seal the rotary shaft 53 against liquid escape. Each of the rotary shafts 53 is provided with two or more radially extending paddles 51 which are mounted at right angles to one another and said paddles are provided with central depressed portions 58 for receiving the contour of the shaft 53 and facilitate the welding of said paddles in position. Radially extending ribs 59' are formed in the paddles 51 to reenforce the same throughout their length.

The upper end of each rotary shaft. 53 projects through the bearing member 49 and hassec'ured thereto asprocketwheelby means offa transa openings 63 in which are fitted bearing members 64 for receiving a rotatable stub shaft 65. Cam clamping discs 66 are secured to'the lower end of said shaft 65 and said clamping discs are provided with cam surfaces 61 adapted to engage the underside of the offset portion 42 of the inwardly extending flange 4!! and thereby secure the cover member 44in place. A collar 68 is secured to the upper end of each stub shaft 65 and is provided witha finger piece 69 to facilitate rotation of said shaft and cam disc 66 to thereby securely lock the cover member 44 in position. I

Also mounted in the cover plate 44 is a pouring spout 10 having an annular flange 1| whichmay bewelded to the cover member 44 as indicated inFigur'efi. The upper end of the pouring spout I ll is. provided witha sleeve 12 having oppositely extending flanges 13 and T4 to provide a base for a swinging closure plate 15.: A pivot pin 16 is provided for pivotally attaching the closure plate 15 to the flange 1.3 and a s'pring clip TI is formed integral withthe opposite flange member 14' for engaging over said closure plate 'I5 whenthe its closed position and securely'hold The drive mechanism for the various stirrers or agitating blades 51 comprises a vertical shaft 1 9 rotatably mounted in suitable bearings and 81 in. the various shelyes t6 and it respectively and the upper end of said shaft extends into'a gear housin 83'formed integralwith the bearin 81' and. f e w th. a w rm. wheel 8. shewn in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2. The gear housing, 83. isformedwith an extension 85 into which exte'nds andis rotatably mounted a'drive shaft 86 igures) and said drive shaft is provided with a worm 81' drivingly engaging the wormfwheel on the: upper end of. therotary shaft. 1.9. A. motor 88; has; its base 89. fastened; to

the shelf nty means of bolts or the like an. and

the a mat c n sa me -wnn saed to, the worm shaft 86,. by means; of ;a sui;ta ble' M n edpn h h ft}? at spaced apart locations is a series of sprocket ecu df n coupling element 92 wheels 94 the hubs, of. which at 95' are place, by transverse; locking pins 96, Mounted on the underside of the shelves lfi and H; and secured thereto byscrews or the like 91 .is,a bearing support 98 and saidbearing; support is provided with a sliding block 9.9 movable to and 'frowithin said; guide 98-; The bearing block 99 is provided with. screw-threaded; openings. Hill for receiving a sprocket wheel shaft t0 I. upon which is mounted a sprocket. wheel H12: in horizontal alignment with the sprocket. wheels 94., A nut I03; is threaded; on the lower end of the sprocket shaft IM to securely hold the sprocket I BZ in position but permit free rotation fthereof on said shaft. Mounted inthe bearing guide '98 is a coil spring. I114: having one end-abutting the guide and the other endabdttihg the gauge blo'ck' 99 sogas to urge said'bloc'kin a direction'opposed to the sprocket wheels 94. i

- Sprocket chains" 1 wand m "are. trainee-bier the horizontally aligned sprocket wheels 04 and I02 in such a manner as to be positioned in driving engagement with the sprocket wheels 60 mounted on the upper ends of the rotary shafts 53 of the various agitating stirrers in said receptacles 22. In order to hold and guide the sprocket chains I06 and I! in driving engagement with the sprocket wheels 60, a series of idle sprockets I 08 are mounted on shafts I09 which are bolted to the shelves I6 and I? by means of nuts or the like H0 and spacing studs II I are provided for receiving said shafts and maintaining the idle sprockets in spaced relation from the bottom walls of the respective shelves It and II. The idle sprockets are positioned in back of the sprocket chain I07 so that when the receptacles 22 with the cover plates 44 are positioned on the platforms 20, the sprockets 60 of the stirrers will be pressed into engagement with the sprocket chain I01 and into driving engagement therewith. As the receptacles are inserted and removed, the sliding bearing block 99 and sprocket wheel I02 will move inwardly and outwardly to compensate for the lateral chain movement and thereby maintain the sprocket chain I01 in tight driving engagement with said sprocket 60 to cause the rotation of the stirrers in the various receptacles 22.

In operation, the motor 83 is connected to a suitable source of current so that the drive shaft 86, worm 81 and vertical drive shaft 19 will be driven at a constant rate of speed. Upon rotation of the vertical drive shaft I0, the sprocket chains I06 and I01 will be driven in the same direction and the receptacles 22 may be positioned on a platform 20 With the closure member 44 in place thereon so that the sprocket wheels 60 on the upper ends of rotary shafts 53 in said closure members will be drivingly engaged by the sprocket chains I 06. It is to be noted that receptacles 22 may be inserted and removed from the agitating machine on opposite sides thereof with ease and facility and that the stirrers of the various receptacles will be operated in unison. By reason of the unique construction, one or more of the receptacles 22 may be removed from the agitating machine without disturbing the agitating operation of the remaining receptacles and that receptacles 22 of various sizes may be employed by altering the size of the closure member 4:3 and the paddles 51 and employing rotary shafts 53 of the same size as used for other receptacles.

In inserting and removing cans or receptacles 22, it is simply necessary to operate the finger piece 36 of the clamping cam 3I so as to move the cam away from the base 37 of the receptacle 38 and permit the removal of the same away from the base-engaging lugs or members 30. The cabinet structure may be of any height desired with as many shelves and sprocket chains as needed to accommodate a large number of receptacles 22 fitted with the stirrers 53 and 51 with the sprockets 60 thereof positioned for engagement with the sprocket chains I06 and I01.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same and that various changes may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subJ'oined claims.

What I claim is:

1. A quick-detachable stirring machine for stir- .ring'materials without removing them from the commercial open-topped closed-bottomed containers in which they are sold, said machine comprising a frame, a pair of sprockets spacedly and rotatably mounted on said frame, a power source drivingly connected to one of said sprockets, an endless sprocket chain meshing with said sprockets, a cover structure including a quickly-removable closure member fitting over the open top of each container, a vertical shaft journaled solely in said cover structure and extending downward therefrom into said container, an agitator mounted on said shaft, said shaft and agitator being spaced from said container and free from direct contact therewith, a driven sprocket mounted on the upper portion of said shaft externally of said container, and means for holding said agitator sprocket positioned in pressing engagement against said sprocket chain whereby to enable quick engagement and disengagement of said agitator sprocket from said sprocket chain.

2. A qulck-detacnable stirring machine for stirring materials without removing them from the commercial open-topped closed-bottomed containers in which they are sold, said machine comprising a frame, a pair of sprockets spacedly and rotatably mounted on said frame, a power source drivingly connected to one of said sprockets, an endless sprocket chain meshing with said sprockets, a cover structure including a quickly removable closure member fittlng over the open top of each container, a vertical shaft journaled solely in said cover structure and extending downward therefrom into said container, an agitator mounted on said shaft, said shaft and agitator being spaced from said container and free from direct contact therewith, a driven sprocket mounted on the upper portion of said shaft externally of said container, means for holding said agitator sprocket positioned in pressing engagement against said sprocket chain whereby to enable quick engagement and disengagement of said agitator sprocket from said sprocket chain, said sprocket chain being slackiy mounted on said sprockets, and take-up mechanism disposed adiacent said agitator sprocket on the opposite side of said sprocket chain from said agitator sprocket whereby to cause a slack portion of said sprocket chain to partially encircle said agitator sprocket pressed thereagainst while taking up a portion of said slack.

3. A quick-detachable stirring machine for stirring materials without removing them from the commercial open-topped closed-bottomed containers in which they are sold, said machine comprising a frame, a pair of sprockets spacedly and rotatably mounted on said frame, a power source drivingly connected to one of said sprockets, an endless sprocket chain meshing with said sprockets, a cover structure including a quickly removable closure member fitting over the open top of each container, a vertical shaft journaled solely in said cover structure and extending downward therefrom into said'container, an agitator mounted on said shaft, said shaft and agitator being spaced from said container and free from direct contact therewith, a driven sprocket mounted on the upper portion of said shaft externally of said container, means for holding said agitator sprocket positioned in pressing engagement against said sprocket chain whereby to enable quick engagement and disengagement of said agitator sprocket from said sprocket chain, said sprocket chain being slackly mounted on said sbrocke't Wheels, and a "pair or take-up'wheels dis- JOHN REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Jan. 26 1932 

